Post office employee stuffed £1,000 bundles under his belt

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A CREWKERNE post office worker walked out with £1,000 bundles of cash to fund his drug addiction – leaving the postmaster responsible for repaying the £30,000 stolen.

Taunton Crown Court heard that Nathan Stuart, 25, of Lambrook Road, Shepton Beauchamp, was so well regarded in the post office in East Street that he was given responsibility for cashing up. No-one suspected he was taking money until a Post Office audit revealed a shortfall of £29,892.42 from October to March.

Harry Ahuja, prosecuting, said Stuart made full admissions when interviewed on March 26 and confessed that a drug addiction since Christmas had spiralled out of control and he had been unable to fund it.

He took home £1,000 bundles of cash which he hid under his belt when his boss was not present.

He was responsible for cashing up at the end of the day when the postmaster, Diggery Bidgen, was not there. Mr Bidgen is under obligation to pay back the outstanding money.

Mr Ahuja said: "As a result of the case, the postmaster had a personal obligation to pay back the outstanding money to the Post Office and my impression is that a plan has been set up for him to pay that back over a number of years.

Rebecca Bradberry, defending, said the offences were motivated by his drug habit and there were also mental health issues. The offences were totally out of character.

Judge Jeremy Griggs said Stuart had admitted false accounting and theft by an employee at the first opportunity for which he was being given credit.

It was a clear breach of trust and the lowest sentence he could impose was 15 months in prison.

The judge added he had the greatest sympathy for the person who was responsible for repaying the cash.

[POSTMAN]

leaving the postmaster responsible for repaying the £30,000 stolen.

I just don't get these subbie contracts.

[subbie]

Postman, you don't want to get anywhere near these contracts, they are toxic.

But on the bright side I hear that some positive changes could be on the way to achieve a fair deal

Subbie